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Second man charged in murder of 63-year-old Jersey City man defending his wife during robbery

HaniyfHiggins.jpg

Haniyf Higgins, 22, of Jersey City, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, North Carolina and charged in the homicide of a 63-year-old Jersey City man who police say was fatally shot while defending his wife during a robbery near their Danforth Avenue home on April 6, officials said.
(Rubino, Gene)

A second man has been charged in the murder of a 63-year-old Jersey City man who police say was fatally shot while defending his wife during a robbery near their Danforth Avenue home on April 6, officials said today

Haniyf Higgins, 22, of Arlington Avenue in Jersey City, was arrested Wednesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and charged with the felony murder of George T. Smith, as well as two counts of robbery, receiving stolen property and weapons offense related to a handgun, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Gene Rubino said this afternoon.

Higgins was arrested by the Fayetteville Police Department and is being held in North Carolina pending extradition proceedings, Rubino said.

On April 9, Joshua E. Higgins, 19, of Newark, believed to be a cousin of Haniyf Higgins, was arrested by the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and charged with Smith’s murder and felony murder, as well as robbery and weapons offenses related to a firearm, Rubino said at the time. His bail was set at $500,000 cash only.

Smith and his wife had just returned home when two men approached Smith's wife on the street and one of them grabbed her purse. When Smith tried to get it back, he was fatally shot, officials said.

Neighbors administered CPR and tried desperately to save Smith before he was rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m., officials said.

A warrant for the arrest of Haniyf Higgins was issued following his indictment by a Hudson County grand jury on Tuesday, Rubino said.

Donte Gaskin, 19, of Irvington, was also arrested on April 9 in Newark and charged with receiving stolen property after he was allegedly found with the phone taken during the robbery, Rubino said, adding that his bail was set at $75,000 cash or bond.

Gaskin, as well as Haniyf Higgins and Joshua Higgins, are also charged in a Newark carjacking, Rubino said.